Materials handling system

ABSTRACT

A STORAGE UNIT HAVING WHEELS AT THE LOWER SIDE EDGES THEREOF IS TRANSFERRED BETWEEN RAILS ON A CARRIER AND RAILS ON A PLATFORM BY MEANS OF A DRIVE MECHANISM COMPRISING A CARRIAGE SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON A TRACK DISPOSED BETWEEN THE RAILS ON THE PLATFORM. THE CARRIAGE IS RELEASABLY ENGAGEABLE WITH ONE END OF THE STORAGE UNIT, AND A CABLE IS CONNECTED TO THE CARRIAGE AND TO A WINCH WHICH CAN BE OPERATED TO MOVE THE CARRIAGE ALONG THE TRACK TO THEREBY TRANSFER THE STORAGE UNIT FROM THE CARRIER TO THE PLATFORM AND VICE VERSA.

March 20, 1973 F. RAYNES ET AL 3,721,354

MATERIALS HANDLING SYSTEM Filed July 27, 1970 v 8 Sh eets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS BURT F. RAYNES BY NECATI KANATSIZ ROBERT E. OTTLE EMD- w ATTORNEY March 20, 1973 B. F. RAYNES ET AL 3,721,354

MATERIALS HANDLING SYSTEM Filed' July 27, 1970 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORb no BURT F. RAYNES O m w P BY NECATI KANATSIZ ff, ROBERT EOTTLE w 1 EMT).

L ATTORNEY March 20, 1973 RAYNES ET AL 3,721,354

MATERIALS HANDLING SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 27, 1970 INVENTORS BURT F. RAYNES BY NECATI KANATSIZ ROBERT BOTTLE EMU.

ATTORNEY B. F. RAYNES ET AL MATERIALS HANDLING SYS TEM Filed July 27 1970 IZA HZB H3 (I00 H3 nzc I120 \56 1 '[TLLU L96 I06 \00 94B FIG 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR BURT F. RAYNES NECATI KANATSIZ ROBERT E. OTTLE ATTORNEY March 20, 1913 Fild July 27, 1970 B- F RAYNES ET AL MATERIALS HANDLING SYSTEM 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 BURT F. RAYNES NECATI KANATSIZ ROBERT E. OTTLE EMNQJQM ATTORNEY March 20,v 1973 F. RAYNES ET AL 3,721,354

MATERIALS HANDLING SYSTEM Filed July 27, 1970 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 m 0 Q E g E :2

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L g co '3 m 33 r o J INVENTORS BURT F. RAYNES BY NECATI KANATSIZ ROBERT E. OTTLE fim 0. Quad ATTORNEY Marh 20, 1973 a, F. RAYNES ET 3,721,354

MATERIALS HANDLING SYSTEM Filed July 27. 1970 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 United States Patent 3,721,354 MATERIALS HANDLING SYSTEM Burt F. Raynes, Chula Vista, Necati Kanatsiz, Spring Valley, and Robert E. Ottle, San Diego, Calitl, assignors to Rohr Industries Inc.

Filed July 27, 1970, Ser. No. 58,345 Int. Cl. B65g 67/24 US. Cl. 214-38 D 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a materials handling system and more particularly to such a system which automatically moves mobile storage units onto and off highway carriers such as trucks and trailers.

The conventional practice of loading materials onto, and unloading materials from, a truck or trailer piece by piece is obviously wasteful from the standpoint of the loss of use of such carriers and their drivers during timeconsuming loading and unloading operations. Furthermore, the aforesaid conventional practice is also disadvantageous because it requires materials to be sorted, either as they are being removed from a carrier or thereafter, and then transferred to racks and the like before they can be made available to customers or workmen.

The invention disclosed herein provides a materials handling system which enables materials to be loaded onto a storage unit while the latter is in a warehouse, and which permits the loaded storage unit to be quickly and conveniently moved onto and off the bed of a carrier, thus minimizing the time spent by the carrier and its driver off the highway. The storage unit is adapted to fit into a rack structure at both its point of shipment and destination point, thus facilitating the loading of materials onto the storage unit at the former and eliminating the necessity of transferring the same materials to a separate rack at the latter.

A preferred embodiment of this invention comprises an van-type trailer having a pair of rails fixedly mounted in parallel relation on its bed and extending to a point adjacent the rear edge of the latter. Two pairs of rails are fixedly positioned in parallel relation on a first platform and extend from the edge of the latter into a building. Two other pairs of rails are identically arranged with respect to a second platform and another building associated with the latter, the aforesaid first and second platforms being respectively located at points where materials are to be shipped and received. Each of the rails on the platforms comprises an end section one end of which is attached to the associated rail so that the end section can be pivoted about a horizontal axis disposed perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rail. The preferred embodiment also comprises three storage units each in the form of a rack having wheels mounted on the lower side thereof, which wheels are respectively engageable with the rails on the trailer and with any pair of the rails on the first and second platforms. Associated with each pair of ice the rails on the platforms is a drive mechanism consisting of a track disposed between the rails in parallel relation therewith, a carriage slidably mounted on the track and provided with a tow bar one end of which is releasably engageable with connection means mounted on one end of each storage unit, and a cable and winch arranged so that operation of the latter moves said carriage either toward or away from the edge of the associated platform. Each of the aforesaid building houses a pair of racks respectively aligned with the two pairs of rails extending thereinto, and each of these racks is formed with an opening in which any one of the three storage units conformably fits. Thus a storage unit serves as part of a respective one of the aforesaid racks when the storage unit is positioned at a predetermined location on the rails associated with the particular rack.

For the purpose of illustrating the manner of operation of the preferred embodiment of the invention which has been briefly described, it will be assumed that initially two of the storage units are respectively positioned on the two pairs of rails on the first platform, and the other storage unit is positioned on one pair of the rails on the second platform. After one of the storage units on the first platform has been loaded with materials which must be transported to the building at the second platform, the aforesaid trailer is positioned adjacent the edge of the first platform so that the rails thereon are in end-to-end relation with the rails on which the loaded storage unit is supported (as will be seen hereinafter, the pivotal arrangement of the end sections of the rails on the platforms enables said end sections to be swung into a position where they will not be struck by the rails on the trailer as the latter is being moved into position adjacent a platform). The loaded storage unit is then moved onto the trailer by means of the carriage associated with the rails which initially support the storage unit, and the latter is secured in fixed position on the trailer by locking means which will be described in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment. The trailer and loaded storage unit are hauled to the site of the second platform, where the trailer is positioned so that the rails thereon are placed in end-to-end relation with the empty pair of rails on said second platform. The loaded storage unit is then released from the aforesaid locking means and moved onto the platform rails by means of the carriage associated with the latter. The trailer is next positioned so that its rails are in end-to-end relation with the rails which support the storage unit initially located at the second platform, and this storage unit is moved onto the trailer by means of the carriage associated with the last-mentioned platform rails. The driver of the tractor to which the trailer is connected is then free to return to the first platform where the foregoing transfer steps are repeated.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION Accordingly it is a broad object of this invention to provide an improved materials handling system.

Another object is to provide a materials handling system that minimizes the time spent by drivers and highway carriers at loading and unloading facilities.

An additional object is to provide a materials handling system that eliminates the laborious sorting ordinarily required to place articles in ordered, catalogued relation at a warehouse or other building to which they are shipped.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a pictorial view illustrating some of the components of a preferred materials handling system in accordance with the invention, namely, two or three identically constructed mobile storage units employed in said system, rails on which said storage units can be supported, a building in which said rails are located, and a trailer which is adapted to carry one of said storage units, one of the storage units being illustrated on said trailer and brace members of the storage units being Omitted in the drawing for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a fragmented side elevation of one of the storage units illustrated in FIG. 1, the drawing also illustrating the support frame for the rails which support the storage unit and components which are adapted to move the storage along the rails and onto and off the aforesaid trailer;

FIG. 3 is a fragmented plan view of a typical pair of the rails and support frames therefor which are illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the rails illustrated in FIG. 3, taken along the plane represented by line 44 in the latter drawing and in the direction indicated therein, certain components being omitted in order to simplify the drawings;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of end portions of the rails illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the end portions of said rails and a typical pair of a plurality of wheels which support the storage units on the rails, the view being taken along the plane represented by line 66 in FIG. 5 and in the direction indicated therein;

FIG. 7 is an end view of a typical one of the storage units;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the trailer illustrated in FIG. 1, with one of the storage units positioned thereon and with doors of the trailer omitted in order to simplify the drawing;

FIG. 9 is a fragmented longitudinal sectional view of the trailer, illustrating components which hold the storage unit in fixed position on the trailer and showing certain components in cut-away view in order to clarify construction details;

FIG. 10 is a fragmented plan view of the trailer and the positioning components illustrated in FIG. 9, the storage unit on the trailer being illustrated in phantom; and

FIG. 11 is a pictorial view illustrating some of the components of a preferred materials handling system at a remote location in accordance with the invention, namely, one of three identically constructed mobile storage units employed in said system, rails On which said storage units can be supported, and a building in which said rails are located.

Throughout the drawings and the following specification, the same numbers refer to the same parts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As pointed out hereinbefore, a preferred embodiment of this invention comprises two identically arranged buildings and platforms, which generally are situated at points remote from each other. FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of one of these buildings, and FIG. 11 the other generally designated by the number 10, and a platform 12 the upper surface 14 of which constitutes the floor of the building. The same FIG. 1 drawing also illustrates in phantom a van-type trailer 15 and tractor combination, details of the construction of said trailer being illustrated in other drawings referred to hereinafter. Each of the two buildings 10 and 10, 10' having the same reference characters as 10 with the addition of, of the preferred embodiment has at least two pairs of rails 18A, 18B, 20A, 20B fixedly positioned in spaced, parallel relation above the surface 14 of platform 12 and extending from a point adjacent the edge of the latter into the interior of the building. More particularly, as illustrated in detail in FIGS. 24, each pair of the rails is supported on a frame formed of parallel I-beams 22, a plurality of cross members 24, and a plurality of posts 26. One rail 18B, 20B of each pair is a flat bar welded to the upper surfaces of one of said beams and the other rail 18A, 20A of each pair is an angle bar the side edges of which are welded to the other set of said beams. The end of each rail 18, 20 next to the edge of platform 12 comprises an end section, generally designated in FIGS. 5 and 6 by the number 28, which is formed of an I-beam A, 30B and either a flat bar 32 or an angle bar 34, depending upon the type of rail 18A, 18B, 20A, 20B with which the end section is associated. Bars 32, 34 project a short distance from the ends of platform 12, and a spacer 35 is fixedly secured to the lower side of each of the projecting portions of said bars. One end of each end section 28 is pivotally connected by means of a pin 36 and pivot members 37A, 37B to the rail 18A, 18B, 20A, 20B associated therewith, thereby permitting the end sections to pivot about a common axis disposed parallel to the surface 14 of platform 12 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the rails. Such pivotal motion of the end sections 28 is effected by means of pressure rams 38 one end of each of which is pivotally connected to a plate 40* fixedly mounted on surface 14 and the drive shaft 42 of each of which is pivotally connected to. a respective one of said end sections. To cause the end sections 28 of each pair of rails to pivot as a unit, a box beam 44 extends between the beams 30A, 30B thereof and is fixedly connected thereto. A V-shaped centering member 46 is welded to the lower side of each beam 30 adjacent the free end thereof.

As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a track 48 formed of an I-beam is fixedly mounted on cross members 24 intermediate each pair of rails 18, 20. Slidably mounted on each track 48 is a carriage 50 having a tow bar 52 pivotally connected to one end thereof for rotation about an axis disposed parallel to surface 14 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said track. The free end of each tow bar 52 is releasably engageable with a ball-type connector 54 (see FIG. 10) fixedly mounted on one end of a storage unit generally designated in the drawings by the number '56, three of such storage units preferably being provided if each of the two buildings 10 and 10 which have been mentioned hereinbefore has two pairs of rails therein for supporting the storage units. At each end of track 48 there are two posts 58, (see FIG. 3) on which a pair of sheaves 62A-62D are rotatably mounted. More specifically, each sheave is rotatable about an axis disposed parallel to surface 14 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the track associated therewith, and one of the sheaves of each pair thereof is superposed relative to the other. A winch, generally designated by the number 70, is fixedly mounted on surface 14 under each track 48, each winch being disposed intermediate the ends of the associated track and comprising a drum 72 and an electric motor 74 which drives a pulley 76 connected by means of a belt 78 to another pulley '80 fixedly mounted on the axle of said drum. A cable 84 is wound on each drum 72, with the opposite ends thereof being looped around respective pairs of the sheaves 62 and connected to respective ends of carriage 50. A plurality of horizontally disposed rollers 86, mounted on brackets 88 which depend from crossmembers 24, provide support for each cable 84 (see FIGS. 2 and 4). A pair of stops 92A, 92B respectively project upwardly from the ends of rails 18, 20 which are inside building 10 (see FIGS. 2 and 3).

As illustrated in FIGS. 2, 7, 9 and 10, each storage unit 56 comprises a rigid base frame formed of tubular members having a substantially square cross-sectional configuration. More explicitly, each base frame comprises a pair of longitudinal members 94A, 94B which are disposed in spaced, parallel and coterminous relation, and a plurality of cross members 96 which extend across the upper surfaces of said longitudinal members and are fixedly attached thereto. Three uprights 98, each also formed of a tubular structural member having a substantially square cross-sectional configuration, are fixedly attached to each cross member 96 and project upwardly therefrom, the outermost of said uprights being respectively disposed adjacent the ends of the cross member.

Thus uprights 98 are arranged in groups which are evenly spaced apart longitudinally of the storage unit, and the three uprights of each group are transversely aligned (i.e., located on a line which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the storage unit). Three horizontally disposed support members 100, each formed of a channel-type beam as can be seen in end view in FIG. 2, are also fixedly attached to each of the triads of uprights 98 at the ends of storage unit 56 and extend transversely across the members thereof in vertically spaced relation to one another. Three support members 100' are likewise attached to both the forward and rear sides of each of the other triads of uprights 98, the forward and rear sides of said uprights being defined for convenience of description as the sides of the uprights which are on the left and right, respectively, in FIG. 2. Furthermore, as is plain in the last-mentioned drawing, each of the support members 100 attached to one triad of uprights 98 is level with a respective one of the support members attached to an adjacent group of uprights, so that pallets 102 (only some of which are illustrated in FIG. 2, to simplify the drawing) or other means for supporting materials, such as boxes or the like, can be horizontally supported between said uprights on pairs of said support members. Horizontally disposed upper longitudinal members 104A, 104B, 1040 (see FIG. extend between and are fixedly joined to adjacent pairs of the central and outermost uprights 98 at the level of the uppermost support members 100 (see FIG. 8), and horizontally disposed lower longitudinal members 106 respectively extend be tween and are fixedly joined to cross members 96, said members 106 being aligned with the middle uprights 98 (see FIG. 7). Two diagonal braces 108A, 108B extend between adjacent pairs of the central uprights 98 and are fixedly connected to plates 110 respectively mounted adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof (see FIG. 2). Four diagonal braces 112A-112D also extend between and are fixedly connected to plates 113 which in turn are mounted on respective members of each transversely aligned triad of uprights 98 (again see FIG. 7). Plates 114 and plates 110 serve as stops for pallets 102 supported on support members 100 (again see FIG. 2).

Each storage unit 56 is provided with a plurality of steel wheels 116 which are arranged in two longitudinally extending rows on the lower side thereof and which respectively rotate about axes disposed parallel to the longitudinal axes of cross members 96. More explicitly, as best illustrated in FIG. 6 two mounting plates 118A, 118B are fixedly attached to the lower side of each cross member 96 adjacent the ends thereof, and a wheel assembly, generally designated by the number 120 in the same drawing, is bolted to each of said plates. Each wheel assembly 120 comprises a support plate 122, a pair of brackets 124A, 124B fixedly joined to the lower surface of said support plate and depending therefrom, a pair of horizontally disposed pins 126 (only one of which is illustrated in each wheel assembly shown in FIG. 6) the ends of which are respectively fixedly positioned Within holes in said brackets, and wheels 116A, 116B (see FIG. 9) respectively rotatably mounted on said pins. Each of the wheels 116 on one side of each storage unit (namely, those carried by mounting plates 118A) has a V-shaped groove 128 extending perimetrically thereof, in which groove the V-shaped rail 18A, A of the two pairs of rails at each building 10 conformably fits. At the apex of each groove 128 is a clearance slot 129. The spacing between mounting plates 118A, 118B is such that wheels 116 are respectively engageable with each pair of the rails 18, 20' at buildings 10, 10, allowing a storage unit to be supported on any pair of the rails. Each mounting plate 118A is closer to the rear end of storage unit 56 (i.e., the end of the storage unit which is on the right in FIG. 2) than the mounting plate 118B on the same cross member 96. Thus the wheels 116 on one side of a storage unit are not transversely aligned with wheels on the other side thereof.

Illustrated in FIGS. '8, 9 and 10 are details of the construction of the trailer 15 illustrated in FIG. 1. The bases of two channels 130A, 130B are fixedly secured to the upper surface of the bed 132r of the trailer, and extend between the forward and rear ends thereof. Furthermore, these channels are equidistant from the longitudinal axis of the trailer. A rail 134A consisting of a fiat bar is welded to the upper surface of the base of channel 130A and extends lengthwise thereof. A rail 134B also extends lengthwise of channel 130B, this rail consisting of an angle bar the side edges of which are welded to the upper surface of the base of said channel and the cross-sectional configuration of which is the same as that of rails 18A, 20A of the two pairs of rails mounted on surfaces 16 at each of the two buildings 10 (see FIG. 14). The center-to-center spacing of rails 134A, 134B is the same as that of the pairs of rails 18A, 18B, 20A, 20B at the aforesaid buildings. Thus a storage unit can be transferred from a pair of said rails 18A, 18B, 20A, 20B to rails 134A, 1348, and vice versa, when the rails on trailer 15 and on the platform 12 are disposed in coaxial, end-to-end relation. This relationship is preferably eflected by means of a positioning system of the type disclosed in US. patent application Ser. No. 58,351, filed by N. Kanatsiz, R. E. Ottle, and -B. F. Raynes on July 27, 1970, now Pat. No. 3,666,118 and assigned by them to Rohr Corporation, the assignee of the invention disclosed herein. In accordance with a positioning system of the aforementioned type, a centering member 136 (one of which is illustrated in FIG. 1) is fixedly mounted adjacent the edge of platform 12 in alignment with the longitudinal axis of each track 48 on said platform; a centering deck 138A, 138B is supported on apron 140 adjacent each centering member; a pair of centering plates 142A, 142B are mounted on said apron at a predetermined distance from each centering deck; and trailer 115 is provided with a pin 144 (see FIG. 8) and two supports 146- in FIGS. 1 and 11 (only one of which is illustrated, in FIG. 1). Further details of the positioning system which has been briefly described herein may be obtained by reference to the aforementioned patent application.

The components illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 maintain a storage unit 56 in fixed position relative to the bed 132 of trailer 15 when the storage unit is supported on rails 134A, 134B. Two weldments 148A, 148B of identical construciton are respectively fixedly secured to bed 132 adjacent rails 134A, 134B and at the forward end of the trailer. A horizontally disposed pin r150A, 1503 is fixedly mounted on each weldment 148A, 1483 and projects rearwardly therefrom, the pin being positioned so that it enters the end of a respective one of the tubular longitudinal members 94A, 94B of storage unit 56 when the latter is moved toward the forward end of trailer .14 on rails 134A, 134B. Another pair of weldments 148C, 148D, identical to those just described, are fixedly secured to bed 132 adjacent rails 134A, 1343 and at the rear end of the trailer. A horizontally disposed pin 150C, 150D is also fixedly mounted on each weldment 148C, 148D and projects rearwardly therefrom, this pin being positioned so that when storage unit 56 is moved onto the trailer it enters the end of a respective one of two tubular members 152A, 152B (see FIG. 10) both of which are fixedly mounted on the rearmost cross member 96 of storage unit 56. A pair of horizontally disposed tubular members 154 (one of which can be seen in FIG. 9) extend between and are respectively fixedly joined to the central and outermost uprights 98 located at the end of storage unit 56 which is on the right in FIGS. 2 and 10. Two brackets, generally designated by the numbers 156A, 156B and each comprising three horizontally disposed, vertically aligned arms 158, 159, 160, are fixedly secured to respective ones of the members 154 and to the adjacent cross member 96. Three coaxial holes are respectively formed in arms 158, 159, 160, and the shank of an L-shaped rod 162A, 162B is slidably positioned in these holes. Each rod 162A, 162B is biased downwardly by means of a spring 164 (illustrated in FIG. 9) which encircles the shank of the rod and is positioned between the upper arm 158 of the associated bracket 156A, 156B and a collar 166 fixedly mounted on said shank. The handle portion of each rod 162 normally sits in a notch formed in the edge of a flange which projects upwardly from arm 158 of the associated bracket. However, the handles of the rods can be lifted and twisted 90 degrees, and then the lower ends of the rods can be respectively inserted into the holes in sleeves 168A, 1688 attached at one end to the bed of trailer 15.

FIG. 10 illustrates a typical pair of jambs 170A, 1708 which are respectively fixedly positioned on opposite sides of each pair of rails 18, 20 at each building 10 and each of which has three guide rollers 172A, 172B, 172C mounted thereon. More explicitly, guide rollers 172 are mounted between the arms 174A, (174B of brackets which are generally designated by the number 176 and the bases of which are respectively fixedly attached to the aforesaid jambs. The guide rollers on respective ones of the jambs have a common, vertically disposed axis of rotation and, as can be seen in FIG. 9, are respectively positioned at the levels of pallets 102 supported on support members 100 of storage units 56. It will be noted in FIGS. 9 and 10 that a storage unit 56 fits closely within the housing of trailer :15. It will also be seen in the same drawings that the ends of chanels 130A, 130B and rails 134A, 134B are spaced a short distance from the rear edge of trailer 15, thus permitting a portion of bars 32, 34 which project from the ends of beams 30 of the end sections 28 of the rails on platform 12 to rest on the bed of said trailer. To align each of said end sections 28 of rails 18, 20 on platform 12 with rails 134A, 134B on trailer 15, two blocks 180A, 180B are fixedly mounted on the end of the bed of the trailer and project rearwardly therefrom, each of said blocks having formed in the upper surface thereof a V-shaped slot (see FIG. 8) the apex of which is aligned with the longitudinal axis of a respective one of said rails 134A, 1343. The centering members 46 on end sections 28 are disposed within the aforesaid slots when rails 134A, 134B are coaxially aligned with said end sections.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of racks, generally designated by the numbers 182, 184 are respectively aligned with the two pairs of rails 18, 20 in each building 10, and each of these racks has a section cut out at one end thereof to provide a opening in which a respective one of the storage units 56 conformably fits when the rear edge thereof abuts stops 92A, 92B.

OPERATION As mentioned in the summary of this invention presented hereinbefore, two of the three storage units 56 of the preferred embodiment of the invention are initially respectively positioned on the two pairs of rails 18, 20 at one of the buildings 10 and the other storage unit is positioned on one of the pairs of rails at another building illustrated in FIG. 11. The two storage units illustrated in FIG. 1 constitute part of the racks 182, 184 in building 10 and thus can conveniently be loaded with materials carrying pallets 102 by means of automatic loading apparatus such as that designated by the number 186 in the lastmentioned drawing. After a storage unit 56 has been loaded with pallets, trailer 15 is positioned adjacent platform 12 so that rails 134A, 134B thereon are respectively disposed in coaxial relation with the rails which support the loaded storage unit. This positioning of the trailer is effected by one of the centering members 136 and the components associated therewith which have been identified hereinbefore by the numbers 136, 138, 142, and 144. The centering member also spaces the ends of rails 134A, 134B a predetermined distance from the edge of platform 12. While trailer 15 is being positioned adjacent platform 12, the end sections 28 of the rails on which the loaded storage rack is supported are rotated upwardly from the position which is illustrated in FIG. 5, thus insuring that the rear edge of the trailer will not strike and damage the end sections, as may occur if trailer is not properly positioned relative to centering member 136. End sections 28 are then lowered by ram 38 to the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 5, at which time centering members 46 are respectively engaged within the slots in blocks 180A, 180B which project from trailer 15. The end sections are then properly aligned with rails 134A, 134B on the trailer, and the portions of bars 32 and 34 which project beyond the ends of beams 30 of said end sections are supported on the edge of the bed of said trailer. It should be pointed out at this point that the spacers 35 on the lower sides of the projecting portions of bars 32 and 34 have the same thickness as the bases of channels A, 130B, and thus the bars are respectively level with rails 134A, 134B when supported on the bed of the trailer as aforesaid.

When a storage unit 56 is positioned as illustrated in FIG. 2, tow bar 52 is engageable with connector 54 on the rear of said storage unit. Hence the storage unit can be moved onto trailer 15 by engaging said tow bar with the connector 54 and then operating motor 74 so as to turn drum 72 counterclockwise in the view thereof shown in FIG. 2, thereby causing cable 84 to pull carriage 50 toward the edge of platform 12 and moving the storage unit onto trailer 15. After pins A-150D enter the ends of members 94A, 948, 152A, 152B respectively, the lower ends of rods 162A, 162B are respectively positioned within the holes in sleeves 168A, 168B. The storage unit is thus secured to the bed of trailer 15 so that it cannot be moved relative thereto even if the trailer is severely vibrated while traveling over rough roads. After the loaded storage unit has been transported to the building 10' to which the materials thereon are to be delivered, the storage unit is pulled from trailer 15 by means of the winch 70 and carriage 50 associated with the pair of empty tracks 18 or 20 at said building. As a storage unit moves past jambs 170A, 170B, the edges of pallets 102 which protrude too far from the sides of the storage unit contact respective ones of the guide rollers 172A, 172B, 172C on each jamb 17 0A, 170B and are thus pushed toward the stop plates 110, 114 at the center of the storage unit. The materials on the pallets are of course available as soon as the storage unit has been moved into building '10 at the location to which said materials are shipped. The storage rack initially locoated at the last-mentioned building is then loaded onto trailer 15 and reutrned to the building 10 from which materials are shipped.

It will be recognized that the above described system minimizes the time spend by truck drivers and their carriers at points where materials are shipped and delivered. Furthermore, the system also minimizes the amount of handling required to make materials available at points where they are needed, since particular pallets 102 can be loaded with items which must be transferred to particular storage locations. Hence, the above-stated objects of the invention are fully realized.

Although this invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment of the same, it should not be considered to be limited thereto for various modifications could be made therein by one having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed as new and useful and desired to be secured by US. Letters Patent is:

1. A material handling system comprising:

a van-type trailer having a pair of rails fixedly secured in spaced parallel relationship on the bed thereof;

a platform;

a pair of horizontally disposed rails fixedly positioned in spaced, parallel relation on said platform and ar- 9 ranged so that said rails on said trailer can be respectively disposed end-to-end therewith;

a storage unit comprising a rigid, elongate base frame, a plurality of uprights fixed connected at their lower ends of said base frame and arranged in transversely aligned groups spaced apart longitudinally thereof, a plurality of horizontally disposed support members respectively fixedly attached to each group of said uprights and extending transversely across the members thereof in vertically spaced relation to one another, each of said support members attached to one group of said uprights being level with a respective one of said support members attached to an adjacent group of said uprights so that a plurality of material support means can be horizontally supported between said uprights on pairs of said support members, and a plurality of wheels mounted on said base frame and respectively engageable with said trailer and platform rails so that said storage unit can be supported thereon and transferred therebetween, said storage unit being adapted to fit within the housing of said trailer;

a horizontal track fixedly positioned between said platform rails;

a carriage supported on said track for movement therealong, and a tow bar one end of which is connected to said carriage for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis disposed perpendicular to said track, the other end of said tow bar being releasably engageable with one end of said storage unit;

a pair of sheaves mounted adjacent each end of said track and each rotatable about a horizontal axis disposed perpendicular to said track, one of said sheaves of each pair thereof being superposed relative to the other; and

a winch fixedly mounted on said platform and disposed under said track intermediate the ends thereof, and a cable operatively connected to said winch and opposite ends of which are looped around respective pairs of said sheaves and connected to respective ends of said carriage.

2. The system defined in claim 1 wherein each of said platform rails comprises an end section mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis disposed perpendicular to said platform rails, and said system further comprises hydraulic ram means for pivotally positioning said rail end sections.

3. The system defined in claim 1 including means for maintining said storage unit in fixed position relative to the bed of said trailer when said storage unit is supported on said rails thereon.

4. A materials handling system comprising a wheeled carrier having a pair of horizontally disposed rails fixedly positioned in spaced, parallel relation lengthwise thereon and extending to a point adjacent the rear edge thereof;

a platform;

a pair of horizontally disposed rails fixedly positioned in spaced parallel relation on said platform and arranged so that said rails on said carrier can be respectively disposed end-to-end therewith;

a storage unit comprising a rigid base and a plurality of wheels mounted on said base and respectively engageable with said carrier and platform rails so that said storage unit can be supported thereon and transferred therebetween;

a horizontal track fixedly positioned between said platform rails;

a carriage supported on said track for movement therealong and releasably engageable with one end of said storage unit; and

means mounted on said platform and connected to said carriage for moving the latter along said track, said means for moving said carriage comprising:

at least one sheave mounted adjacent each end of said track and rotatable about a horizontal axis disposed perpendicular to said track;

a winch fixedly mounted on said platform and disposed under said track intermediate the ends thereof;

and a cable operatively connected to said winch and opposite ends of which are looped around respective ones of said sheaves and connected to respective ends of said carriage.

5. The system defined in claim 4 wherein each of said platform rails comprises an end section mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis disposed perpendicular to said platform rails, and said system further comprises hydraulic ram means for pivotally positioning said rail end sections.

6. A materials handling system comprising:

a carrier having a pair of rails fixedly positioned in spaced, parallel relationship lengthwise thereon and extending to a point adjacent the rear edge thereof;

a pair of buildings;

two pairs of parallel rails located at each of said buildings and extending thereinto, each of said pairs of rails being arranged so that said rails on said carrier can be respectively disposed end-to-end therewith;

three storage units each comprising a rigid base and a plurality of wheels mounted on said base and respectively engageable with said rails on said carrier and with each pair of said rails at said buildings so that said storage units can be respectively supported on said carrier and building rails and transferred therebetween;

a plurality of uprights fixed connected at their lower ends to said base and arranged in transversely aligned groups apart longitudinally thereof;

a plurality of horizontal disposed support members respectively fixedly attached to each group of said uprights and extending across the members thereof in vertically spaced relation to one another, each of said support members attached to one group of said uprights being level with a respective one of said support members attached to an adjacent group of said uprights so that a plurality of material support means can be horizontally supported between said uprights on pairs of said support members; and

a pair of racks fixedly disposed in each of said buildings and respectively aligned with said pairs of rails therein, each of said racks being formed with an opening in which one of said storage units conformahly fits.

7. The system defined in claim 6 including a plurality of guide rollers rotatable about a common vertically disposed axis and spaced apart therealong, said axis being a predetermined distance from one of said rails extending into said buildings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,552,644 9/1925 Perlin 214-38.22 1,765,591 6/1930 Kellett 21438.8 X 2,652,938 9/1953 Murphy 214-16.16 BX 2,820,560 1/1958 Davis 21438.8 X 3,250,408 5/1966 Daniluk 21438.8 UX 3,263,832 8/1966 Williams 21438.22

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,199,695 8/1965 Germany 214-38.22

261,945 12/1926 Great Britain 214-16.42 1,134,157 11/1956 France 214-16.1 CA

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner G. F. ABRAHAM, Assistant Examiner 

